Improvement in stove-pipe shelves



M. H. HARMAN.

Stove-Pipe Shelf.

N0. l6l,.878. PatentedAprill3,l875.

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WI N E5555.

THE GRAPH) C0.PH 0T0 .LITH.39 854! PARK PLACE, N-Y- MILES H. HARMAN, OFANDOVER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT lN STOVE-PIPE SHELVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161,875, dated April13,1875; application filed January 20,1875.

10 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILEs H. HARMAN, of Andover, in the county ofAllegany and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Stove-Pipe Shelf, of which the following is aspecification:

This invention relates to improvements in that class of brackets orshelves which are clasped to a stove-pipe for supporting dishes or otherarticles in proximity to the fire in the stove, whereby said dishes maybe retained in a warm condition.

My invention has for its object to furnish a clasp which encircles thestove-pipe, and which is designed to support the shelf or bracket; thesaid clasp being capable of nice adjustment, in order to apply it withease and convenience to any sized stove-pipe; and to this end myinvention consists of a clasp consisting of a spring-wire, having at oneend a hinged or pivoted segmental strip of metal, provided with a seriesof open notches, and a small handle or knob, and at its opposite endbeing bent outwardly, so as to form a projection or handle, with whichthe open notches in the hinged metallic strip can be made to engage insuch manner that the clasp can be applied with ease and rapidity to anyusuallyconstructed stove-pipe. The bracket or shelf for supporting thedishes is constructed with openings in its vertical rim, adjacent to thestove-pipe, through which openings the spring wire of the clasp ispassed in order to support the said shelf, as will be hereinafterdescribed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a top view of the improved bracket,attached to a pipe. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same; and Fig. 3, adetached view of the springclasp and fastening.

The letter A represents the tray or plate, perforated as shown, toprevent the collection of water and other liquids in the same. Said trayis provided with a vertical rim around its edges for more convenientlyholding the dishes and other articles, and has secured to its under sidethe standards B B, set at an angle to each other, and projectingdownward toward the side of the tray, adjacent to the stove-pipe, so asto rest against thestovepipe and support the tray in a horizontalposition. The edge of the tray adjacent to the stove-pipe is curved orcut out to conform to the cylindrical shape of the pipe, and thevertical rim on the same side of the tray is provided with twoapertures, a a, through which a spring-clasp, O, is inserted andsecured, the arms of which project outward, so as to embrace the pipe.To one end of the spring-clasp is secured a segmental strip of metal, D,provided at one end with a small handle or knob, c, and on its underside with a series of open notches, d d. preferably formed by boring ordrilling a series of apertures close to its edge, and cutting awaybetween the edge and said apertures, as shown in Fig. 3. The oppositeend of the clasp is provided with a suitable handle, preferably formedby bending said end into a ring, as shown at b.

The tray is usually constructed of sheetmetal, such as tinnedsheet-iron, for instance, and the rim around its edges turned up andformed in the manner well known to tinners and other workers in sheetmetal, and the standards formed of the same material, corrugated in theusual manner to strengthen them, and secured to the tray by means ofrivets or otherwise. It is evident, however, that the tray and standardscan be otherwise constructed, as, for instance, of cast-iron, in whichcase the whole may be formed of one piece. a

The clasp consists of a collar, formed of spring-wire, or a ribbon ofsteel, or other metal sufficiently elastic to give the required springto the clasp. The bracket, as thus constructed, forms a cheap and simpledevice, which can be easily made and readily applied to a pipe of anysize, and adjusted in any position thereon. The spring-clasp, beingformed simply of a collar of elastic metal, and attached by merelypassing it through the apertures in the rim of the tray, can be verycheaply constructed, and secured to the tray without expense, as norivets, screws, or other expensive means of attachment arerequired.

The arms, being constructed of elastic material, can be readily sprungapart to be placed around the pipe, and, when in position, clasp itclosely, and may be securely fastened around the same at any desiredpoint by simply placing one of the hooks of the segmental.

fastener over one end of the clasp, thus dispensing with the hingeswhich would be required if the clasp were otherwise constructed, whichwould add materially t0 the cost of the bracket.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The clasp O, constructed of apiece of springmetal, having at one end ahandle, I), and at its opposite end a hinged metallic strip, D,constructed with a series of open notches, d d, and a handle, 0, incombination with a shelf or tray, having a rim provided with openings atfor the passage of the clasp in .order to secure the tray to astove-pipe, as

and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal.

MILES H. HARMAN. Witnesses:

A. G. FRISBEY, B. O. COLE,

